Inside Boxing: Rahman charade latest example of boxing corruption

Somewhat lost in the continuing controversy surrounding the press conference brawl between Derek Chisora and David Haye that followed Chisora's loss to Vitali Klitschko in Munich was another heavyweight development in another German city that warrants a closer look.

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Posted Mar. 4, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Posted Mar. 4, 2012 at 12:01 AM

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Somewhat lost in the continuing controversy surrounding the press conference brawl between Derek Chisora and David Haye that followed Chisora's loss to Vitali Klitschko in Munich was another heavyweight development in another German city that warrants a closer look.

Povetkin, not to be confused with "super" heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, must now defend his title against No. 1 WBA mandatory challenger Hasim Rahman within 120 days.

Huh?

Are we talking about former champion Hasim Rahman, who was knocked out by Lennox Lewis in a rematch in 2001? The one who lost a technical decision to Evander Holyfield in 2002? The one who lost to John Ruiz in 2003 and was held to a draw by a fat out-of-shape James Toney and was knocked out by Oleg Maskaev in 2006? The one who was knocked out by Wladimir Klitschko in his last title fight in 2008, which was also the last time he fought a ranked heavyweight?

That Hasim Rahman? You gotta be kidding. Oh, he's still fighting at age 39. He even won his last five fights against five tomato cans. But No. 1 ranked mandatory challenger? Puhleeze!

WBA executive vice-president Gilberto J. Mendoza defended Rahman's ranking and the mandatory title shot with this statement on Twitter:

"I understand your feelings, but how can we deny the rights of a gentleman who earned his status and earns a living boxing?"

Answer: What status? The only status he's earned in the last 10 years is over-the-hill ex-champion. And since when does "earning a living boxing" qualify a fighter for a world title shot? If that's your only qualification for a title fight, why bother with rankings at all?

But I forget that this is the organization that has at least two champions in every division. I bring this charade up only to point out, again, how dumb — perhaps corrupt would be a better word — the WBA is.

Not that it's alone among the four major sanctioning bodies in this respect. This is just the latest example.

To bring you up to date on the Chisora-Haye fiasco, the German Boxing Federation has frozen $100,000 of Chisora's $500,000 purse from the Vitali Klitschko WBC title fight and is recommending to the World Boxing Council (the sanctioning body) and the British Boxing Board of Control that Chisora be banned for life in addition to a $100,000 fine. Whoa!

In case you missed it, Chisora and Haye, the now retired former light heavyweight champion, engaged in a wild, fist-swinging fight (no, this one was not a publicity stunt) during the press conference following Vitali Klitschko's win over Chisora Feb. 18.

The brawl resulted from some taunting by Haye, who retired after his humiliating loss to Wladimir Klitschko and is not currently licensed. In addition to the fight with Haye, Chisora slapped Vitali Klitschko at the weigh-in and spit water in Wladimir's face during the pre-fight introductions. He has since apologized to everyone involved.

Any disciplinary action against Chisora will have to come from the WBC, which has indicated it will fine Chisora an unspecified sum. The German Federation's recommendation is a bit harsh, but you can bet there won't be any more press conference brawls in Germany for awhile.

Vitali Klitschko, incidentally, suffered a partial tear in his left shoulder in his fight with Chisora, which may explain why Chisora didn't get knocked out.

Getting back to boxing, HBO's Boxing After Dark series featured two potential superstars recently in welterweight Devon Alexander and WBO junior lightweight champion Adrian "The Problem" Broner.

You may recall that Alexander was being trumpeted as an emerging superstar until he laid an egg in his unification fight against Timothy Bradley, followed by a lackluster decision over Lucas Matthysse. That led to a mass exodus from the Alexander bandwagon.

But Alexander told everyone who would listen that he was going to make a statement in the Marcos Maidana fight last Saturday, a bout in which both fighters were moving up from junior welterweight to welterweight.

Only Alexander made it a successful transition as he returned to the form he showed in knocking out Juan Urango and then some with a masterful performance of speed, power and stamina against the tough Maidana.

As HBO analyst Max Kellerman pointed out, no one has dominated Maidana the way Alexander did. As it turns out, Alexander's biggest problem may have been making weight at 140. He certainly looked comfortable at 147 Saturday.

Boner, meanwhile, is fast becoming a favorite of mine. Cocky? Oh yeah, but like another cocky fighter who recently celebrated his 70th birthday, there is a certain charm to Boner's youthful bravura (he's only 22).

And he's as good as he says he is, combining explosive speed and power, punctuated by a tendency to showboat, as he demonstrated Saturday night with a fourth round TKO over the previously unbeaten Eloy Perez (23-1-2).

His biggest problem right now is that there doesn't appear to be anyone in the junior lightweight division (130) who can compete with him. He may have to move up to 135 for the big money fights.

Bob Hanna covers boxing for The Standard-Times. Contact him at Sports@s-t.com